Friction clutch plate



Nov. l0, 1953 W. v. THELANDER 2,658,598

FRICTION CLUTCH PLATE Original Filed March l1, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Nov. 10, 1953 w. v. THELANDER 2,658,598

FRICTIONR CLUTCH PLATE Original Filed March 1l, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ed/d [aad [34d /fd /fed 5 TW' V 30d 15d d 54 25d .89d ed i374 tPatentedNov. 10, 1953 UN PATENT OFFICE 658,598 FRIc'iioN CLUTCH PLATE' W; inccntThelander, Auburn,- Ind;, assigner, vto Dana Corporation, Toledo, Ohio,a corporation of Virginia oigial appliati Maren 11, 194.9,-V serel Ne;80,855. Divided ao this application Api-i1 11, 195o, serial No. 155,272

1s claims. (o1. 19t-107) This application is ma division ofi-mycopending application, 'Serial'Nq 8f(')',855, iled -Marchlele, 1949, nowPatent 2,524,146, issued October 3, 1950.

rhis invention relatestoimprovernents in- `friction clutch plates,- andis more particularly concerned with the so-calwled vmu,sh constructionused in cushion type clutch plates, namely, the peripheral cushionportion of the plates on which the friction facing material is carriedwith freedom for the opposed facings to yield under apredeterminedresistance for smoother clutch engagement and freedom fromgrabbing and chattering.

Engineers concerned with the designJ and construction ofcushiontygie'clutch plates have al-l ways in the testingof such clutchplates for performance takenrspecialwnote of the-build-up or packingrate oi the plates,- and aregenerally is one in whichthe'build-up rateis substantially uniform, because-oi the smoothnessof power take-up andcomparative freedom froin'slippage going with it. Y vIt is,fther efore,one of the prin cipal objects of my invention to provideacushion typeclutch plate so designed and constructed as to meet that requirementmore closely.

YEngineers concerned'with cushion type clutch platesalso are greatlyinterested, in the'testing of such plates for wear, to see whether thewear is uniformly distributed on the facings or is conned t'oo muchtothe-inner or outer diameter. The abbreviations for inner diameter andouter diameter are I. D. and O. D. respectively. With mush constructionsusing bowed leaf springs flattenable in the packing operation, it was'always hard to get around this difficulty, because it is virtuallyimpossible `to obtain close uniformity in quantity production of suchsprings. It is, therefore, another important object of my invention toprovide a mush construction in which the yieldable spring cushionsegments forming the facing` supporting portionr of the plate are, firstof all, flat to obtain the desiredl uniformity in characteristics inquantity productionv andat low cost, and are, furthermore, Ydesigned tooper; ate' with a greater of lesser extent-as towidth of overlap ofadjoining :edge portionsadapted to be flexed for the cushioning action,the overlap, for example, being increased at the O. D. if the wearpattern on the facings indicates the need for distributing more of thewear inthat direction, or decreased at uthe I. D. ifthewearpatternindicates' too muchV Wear is yconcentra-tedy there. My inventin alsoenables concentrating clutch 2"v engaging pressure onl a given diameter,as, for example, midway between the O. D. and I. kD., or nearer the V1.-D.v or O; D., Vaccordingly as wear patterns produced on the plates intests might indicate the necessity; It is also contemplated in certainconstructions to' tailor the plate segments in another way to obtaindesired characteristics, namely, by punch-ing openings in the inner endportions of a size and shape to reduce stiiness and consequentVresistance to deflection and, accordingly, decrease facing pressure andwear. y y v The clutch plates of my invention'are further improved bymaking the entire cushion segments, with the exception only of thespacerscarried on the outer end portions under the facings, or springmaterial, with a View to the cushioning portion of the Aplate having thedesired springbackin the cushioning'action and to avoid its tak-ing a-set as a result of an overheating, -if that should ever occur.Incidental tol theoverlapping of adjoining edge portions'of thecushioning segments, I prefer to crimp the segments transversely neartheir inner attaching end pore toins, the segments of' one set beingcrimped' in one direction and those of the other set being crimped inthe opposite direction, so `that the overlapped edge portions are'pressedtightly to; gether in co'planar relationship, thereby insuring e.true-running plate ef' uniform thickness throughout the cushioningportion;l

A further'feature "is"y the provisionA of overlap-1 ping Vedge portions'of different radial" extent, that is, extendingtoajgreater ,o'r lesserdistance from the I. D. te the of. D., er vice vefsagdepejfidingjon.wheie'thee'g'a neiit pressureoi the fecirigs is te te increased erdecreased, as indiu cated by weer pattern tests'. Als, the 4"relate reof interlocking' the ro'verlapping edge portions by reversly'overlappededg'e Aportions to hold the OtherovrIappd edge Aportions in closecontact when the plate is turning free-.-

The invention-isillustrated in the accompany-1 ingvdrawings in i* which-Figi is a rear View of arclutch plate niadein accordance with myinvention, the' lowerl p ori of the platebeing' broken away to 'conservespace, and a portion of one frietienffeeig img-bei' removed to betterillustrate the co'ifs'trii'c'-l tion;

Fig. 2` is a section'orl the' arcuate line' 2-';2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. s is en eniergenenef a portieri err-11g. 2, illustrating the springcushioning action by show- 3 ing the facings pressed together as in theengaged condition of the clutch;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing cuhion segments of anotherdesign, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary face view of segments similar to those of Fig.l, but formed differently at the overlapping edge portions to obtain adifferent result.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts in theseviews.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the clutch plate shown comprisesrelatively rotatable inner and outer portions, the inner portion beingformed by a center hub Il splined for driving connection with thedriving shaft of an automotive transmission and provided with an annularflange I2 onto which a notched plate is riveted for oscillatory movementwith the hub relative to the housing plates I3, in which pockets I4 areformed containing spring cushioning assemblies, so that when therelative movement occurs between the hub ll and housing plates I3, thesprings of said assemblies are compressed lengthwise to cushion thedrive and absorb vibrations, as well known in this art.

The outer portion of the plate contains the mush construction with whichmy invention is particularly concerned. There are two series of stampedspring steel cushion segments ld and ld, all of keystone or segmentalshape, the segments ld being riveted, as at 35, to the rim portion I9 ofthe housing plates I3 with spacers 3 placed under the attaching portions3l. The spacers 36 are of the same thickness as the segments ld and ldand, therefore, serve kto dispose the segments ld in a plane parallel tothe plane of the segments ld but abutting said segments at theoverlapping edge portions 2ld. Openings 38 of generally rectangular formare provided in the inner end portions of the segments so as to deneeasily flexible supporting legs 39 extending substantially radiallyinwardly from the opposed lateral edge portions of the main body portion40 of each segment. The body portions 40 are of generally rectangularform elongated in a circumferential direction with respect to the plate.Stamped sheet metal spacers 22d of segmental form are riveted with thefriction facing ring 24d to the segments ld, as indicated at 23d.Likewise, other stamped sheet metal segments 25d are riveted to thesegments ld with the other friction facing ring 21d, as shown at 26d.Holes 30d in facing ring 21d provide operating clearance for the headsof rivets 23d, and other holes 3ld in facing ring 24d provide operatingclearance for the heads of rivets 26d. The riveting at 35 of the innerends of the segments ld I found gives rise to a tendency for the bodyportions of the segments ld and ld to stand in divergent relationship tosome extent, and it is with a view to avoiding that tendency that I may,as disclosed in the parent application, provide a crimp 32 intermediatethe ends of the legs 39 transversely thereof, so as to make theattaching portions 31 lie in a plane in acute angle relationship to theplane of the main body portion of the segments, the crimping on the oneset ld being in one direction and the crimping on the other set ld beingin the opposite direction, so that the overlapped edge portions 2ld arepressed tightly together in coplanar relationship, insuring atrue-running plate of uniform thickness throughout the cushioningportion.

In operation, it should be clear that when the pressure plate is movedtoward the flywheel in the engagement of the clutch, the facings 24d and21d are pressed together, thereby flexing the segments ld and ld in thespaces 34 between the shims 22d and 25d. The build-up rate issubstantially uniform in the packing together of the parts in theengagement of the clutch, due to the fact that the segments ld and ldconstitute separate leaf springs adapted to be flexed by one another andoverlap to such a small extent at their edge portions 2ld that there canbe only a simple flexing or springboard action of the edge portion ofeach segment. As a result, there is greater smoothness of power take-upand comparative freedom from slippage with this mush construction. Thethickness of the shims or spacers 22d and 25d determines the extent towhich the overlapped portions of the segments ld and ld will be flexed,and, if desired, these spacers 22d and 25d may be increased in thicknessor decreased in thickness to increase or decrease the ultimatecushioning pressure. The fact that the entire cushion segments ld and ldare of spring material insures good spring-back throughout thecircumference of the cushioning portion of the plate every time theclutch is disengaged, and avoids likelihood of the plate taking a set asa result of an overheating, if that should occur. The segments ld and ldbeing flat, can be produced at low cost in quantity production to thedesired uniformity so far as spring characteristics are concerned, andthat, of course, makes for uniform thickness of the cushioning portionand uniform Wear on the facings. The interchangeability of the segmentsld and ld is of advantage not only in reduced die costs but alsospeedier assembling. It should be evident that with the presentconstruction the greatest resistance to compression of the cushionportion of the plate is exerted near the O. D., due to the graduallyincreasing width of overlapping of the edge portions 2 ld radiallyoutwardly. Obviously, if the width of overlap measured circumferentiallyof the plate is not great enough to result in enough wear occurring onthe facing rings 24d and 21d at the O. D., that can be remedied easilyby increasing the included angle of the segments ld and ld to provide aproportionately increased width of overlap at the edge portions 2ld, andvice versa.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, segments le and le are of generallysimilar form to the segments ld and ld, and have stamped sheet metalspacers 22e and 25e cooperating therewith, similarly as spacers 22d and25d, and segments le are mounted on the rim portion I9 of the housingplates l3 with spacers 36 under the attaching portions 31', for asimilar reason. However in this construction, the segments l5e and leboth have an outwardly diverging form to the points 4l, as at 42, thepoints 4l lying on an are concentric with the hub l l and of a radius toextend through an intermediate portion of the main body portion 40 0feach of the segments, the segments having a substantially uniform widthradially outwardly from the points 4l, as shown at G3. As a result,there are diamondshaped areas overlapped by the edge portions 2 le ofneighboring segments to give the cushioning action when the cushioningportion of the plate is compressed in the engagement of the clutch, andthese diamond-shaped areas, lying on .the mean radius of the facingrings 24e and 21e will serve to concentrate the wear substantially onand 2l isnot. distributeduniformly but is con-` ned too muchto. theouter diameter or 0. D. I.may, asshownin Fig. 5, vary ythe springpressurefobtainable by varyingthe radialllength of the.. overlapping.edge. portions, the scallops or lugs- Z'Icy formedon theedgeportions ofsegments i Hicv and Hic being of a radial length reaching from thel. D.,more or less to the O. D. to obtain as much or aslittle pressureat theO. D. as may be. desired to` secu-rethe. desired uniform weardistribution on the. facings. ping lugs Zic for, spring deflection .incushioning are, disclosed as extendingv from-.the I. D. part Wayto theO. D., itiscobvious may reverse the arrangement and have them extendfrom the O. D part way tothe I. D. if the facings donototherwise showenough,v wear at they O; D.. In either event, itis understood-.thataportion ofthe radial extent of the. adjoining.A edge portions ofneighboring segments .isnot used for cushioning action, and Ifproposetointerlock the edge portions of neighboringsegments bymeans of lugs34.;formed on vthis remainder ofthe. radial dimension ofvtheseladloining edge portions, .the lug 35i-on one edgeportion being. offsetone way relative to its companion lugZlc, and the lug 34 on the. otheredgepoltion being oiset the other Way relative to its companionlugZIC,both .in parallelism to thefplanesof thev segments, and the lugs Mbeingoverlapped-so as .totiethe segments together, so that When theclutchr isdisengaged it-b'ehaves substantially the Same soA far astruerunningcharacteristicsare concerned .as `a-plate whose facingrcarrying portionis of one-piece ringconstruction instead of 1the multi-piecemushconstruction shown. The overlapping tie lugs 34 arespaced radially fromthe, other overlapping edge portions vZ lo Vby:circumferentiallyextending slots 35, so thatthere` is no` difficulty in .bending themetal at thecornerspfthe.V segments on radial lines Saito offset,thelugs v3d one way` and the other. to .the extent. necessary.

It is believed the foregoingdeseription con.- veys a goed.understandinglrof the objectsand advantages of4 my inventionw Theappended claims have been drawn to Vcover alllegitimate modificationsand. adaptations.

I claim:

1. YIn,V a .friction clutch plate,l a hub t member, two parallel series.of exiblevresilient cushion plate sections Aconcentrically arranged.relative lto and mounted on saidhub member to turn therewith, thecushionplatesectionsof-both series being circumferentially vspacedandthe. cushion plate sections of one serieswbeing arranged. instaggered vrelation to the cushion. plate sections of -the other series,the cushion plate sections of the -two series being arranged to beFflexed toward one another to a more compact relationshipand havingadjoining lateral edge portions disposed in overlapping relation so asto be flexed to resist oompacting ofthe two series of cushion platesectionsrings Yof friction facing material of appreciablefwidth.measureclY radiallyv ofthe plate mounted on the. .outer .sides .of thetwo ser-ies of cushionY plate t sections Lin. substantially parallelWhile the .overlaprelationship thereto,` andz means in circumferentiallyspacedrelation to each pairof overlapping edge portions spacing thecushion platesectionsofv at least one series `inwardly from the ring ffriction facing material mounted thereon, the width of overlap of Itheedge portions of the cushion plate sections measured circumferentiallyof the friction facing material being small enoughso that only simple orspringboard-like flexure'of the overlapping portions canoccur--in thecompacting ofthe cushion platev sections, the length of overlapof theedge portions offthe cushion plate sections measured radially` from oneof the innerv and outer diameters of the ring of friction facingmaterial being a fractionofthe radial width of said ring, so as toconcentrate the clutch .engaging pressurein a predetermined p ortion ofthe radial widthnof the friction facing material.

2; In a friction clutch plate, a hub member, two parallel series offlexible resilient cushion plate sections concentrically arrangedrelative to and mounted on said hub member to turn therewith, thecushion plate sections of both series being circumferentially spaced andthe cushion plate sectionsof one. series being arranged in staggeredrelation to the cushion plate-seotions of the other series, the cushionplate sections of the two seriesbeing arranged toV be xed toward oneanother to amore, compact relationship and having adjoining lateral edgepor-tions disposed in overlapping relation lso, ast'o be flexed toresist compacting ofthe two series of cushion plate sections, padsoffriction facing4v material of appreciable width measured radially-ofthe plate mounted on .the outer sides Aof the two series of cushionplate sections, and means `in circumferentially spaced relation to each.pairof overlapping edge portions forspacing said pads outwardly fromsaid cushion plate sections to predetermine the ultimate extent of,lexure of the overlapping edge portions of saidl cushion plate sectionsand .accordingly predetermine theextent of cushioning action obtainable,the width of overlap of the edgeportonsof the cushion plate sections,measured circumferentially ofthe friction facing material being smallenough so that only simple or springboard-like flexurek oftheoverlapping portions can occur in the compacting of the cushion plate.sections, thelengtnof overlap of the edgeportions of thecushion platesections measuredv radially from one of the inner and outer diametcrsof`the pads of friction facing material being. Iafractionyof,the radialiwidth of said pads, so as-to concentrate the clutch-engaging pressure ina predetermined portion `of the radial width-of the friction facingmaterial.

3. In a friction clutch; plate, a hub member, two parallel series of.flexible resilient cushion `plate sections concentrically arrangedrelative Yto and mounted on said hub member to turn therewith, thecushion plate sections of "both series being .circumferentially spacedvandthe cushion plate sections of one series being arranged in staggeredrelationto thecushion plate sections of the other series, the cushionplate sectionsof the two series being arrangedto be flexed toward oneanother to a more compact relationship and having adjoining lateral edgeportionsA disposed in overlapping relation so as to be flexed to resistcompactingrof the two series of lcushion plate sections, pads offriction facing material of. appreciable width measured radially of the.plate mounted on-the-outer sides of the two series of -cu'shion platesections, and means in circumferentially spaced relation to each pair ofoverlapping edge portions for spacing said pads outwardly from saidcushion plate sections to predetermine the ultimate extent of flexure ofthe overlapping edge portions of said cushion plate sections andaccordingly predetermine the extent of cushioning action obtainable, thecushion plate sections being generally keystone-shaped and having theirwidest portions radially outermost, the lateral edge portions ofneighboring cushion plate sections overlapping with increasing widthradially outwardly to concentrate increased cushion pressure toward theouter diameter of the friction facings, the radially inner end portionsof said cushion plate sections being cut away in an area of appreciabledimensions measured radially and transversely so as to leave two narrowand easily flexible substantially radial leg portions on the lateraledges of each plate ysection for support thereof on the hub member.

4. In a friction clutch plate, a hub member, two parallel series offlexible resilient cushion plate sections concentrically arrangedrelative to and mounted on said hub member to turn therewith, thecushion plate sections of both series being circumferentially spaced andthe cushion plate sections of one series being arranged in staggeredrelation to the cushion plate sections of the other series, the cushionplate sections of the two series being arranged to be flexed toward oneanother to a more compact relationship and having adjoining lateral edgeportions disposed in overlapping relation so as to be iiexed to resistcompacting of the two series of cushion plate sections, pads of frictionfacing material of appreciable width measured radially of the platemounted on the outer sides of the .two series of cushion plate sections,and means in circumferentially spaced relation to each pair ofoverlapping edge portions for spacing said pads outwardly from saidcushion plate sections to predetermine the ultimate extent of flexure ofthe overlapping edge portions of said cushion plate sections andaccordingly predetermine the extent of cushioning action obtainable, thecushion plate sections being of gradually increasing width radiallyoutwardly to a given radius and substantially of a uniform widthradially outwardly from that point, the lateral edge portions ofneighboring cushion plate sections overlapping in diamond-shaped areasto concentrate the most cushioning pressure at the radius of thefriction facings corresponding with the greatest width of saiddiamond-shaped areas.

5. In a friction clutch plate, a hub member, two parallel series offlexible resilient cushion plate sections concentrically arrangedrelative to and mounted on said hub member to turn therewith, thecushion plate sections of both series being circumferentially spaced andthe cushion plate sections of one series being arranged in staggeredrelation to the cushion plate sections of the other series, the cushionplate sections of the two series being arranged to be flexed toward oneanother to a more compact relationship and having adjoining lateral edgeportions disposed in overlapping relation so as to be exed to resistcompacting of the two series of cushion plate sections, pads of frictionfacing material of appreciable width measured radially of the platemounted on the outer sides of the two series of cushion lplate sections,and means in circumferentially spaced relation to each pair ofoverlapping edge portions for spacing said pads out- 8 wardly from saidcushion plate sections to predetermine the ultimate extent of ilexure ofthe overlapping edge portions of said cushion plate sectionsandaccordingly predetermine the extent of cushioning action obtainable, thecushion plate sections being of gradually increasing width radiallyoutwardly to a given radius and substantially of a uniform widthradially outwardly from that point, the lateral edge portions ofneighboring cushion plate sections overlapping in diamond-shaped areasto concentrate ythe most cushioning pressure at the radius of thefriction facings corresponding with the greatest Width of saiddiamond-shaped areas, the cushion plate sections of at least one seriesbeing crimped ytransversely of their radially inner end portions so asto bias the radially outer end portions thereof toward close contact attheir lateral edges with the radially outer end portions of the cushionplate sections of the other series.

6. In a friction clutch plate, a hub member, two parallel series offlexible resilient cushion plate sections concentrically arrangedrelative to and mounted on said hub member to turn therewith, thecushion plate sections of both series being circumferentially spaced andthe cushion plate sections of one series being arranged in staggeredrelation to the cushion plate sections of the other series, the cushionplate sections of the two series being arranged to be flexed toward oneanother to a more compact relationship and having adjoining lateral edgeportions disposed in overlapping relation so as to be flexed to resistcompacting of the two series of cushion plate sections, pads of frictionfacing material of appreciable width measured radially of the platemounted on the outer sides of the two series of cushion plate sections,and means in circumferentially spaced relation to each pair ofoverlapping edge portions for spaeing said pads outwardly from saidcushion plate sections to predetermine the ultimate extent of ilexure ofthe overlapping edge portions of said cushion plate sections andaccordingly predetermine the extent of cushioning action obtainable, thecushion plate sections being of gradually increasing width radiallyoutwardly to a given radius and substantially of a uniform widthradially outwardly from that point, the lateral edge portions ofneighboring cushion plate sections overlapping in diamond-shaped areasto concentrate the most cushioning pressure at the radius of thefriction facings corresponding with the greatest width of saiddiamond-shaped areas, the radially inner end portions of said cushionplate sections being ont away in an area of appreciable dimensionsmeasured radially and transversely so as to leave two narrow and easilyflexible substantially radial leg portions on the lateral edges of eachplate section for support thereof on the hub member.

7. A friction clutch plate comprising a central mounting means, a pairof axially spaced annular friction facings of appreciable width measuredradially of the plate disposed radially outward from the periphery ofsaid mounting means, means for connecting one of said frietion facingsin torque transmitting relation to said mounting means and including aseries of circumierentially spaced, individual spring sheet metalfriction-facing supports carried by said mounting means and extending ina generally radial direction and of equal radial length and attached toone friction facing only, each of said 9 supirts having a normally -atveineninfer'errtially extending fiter rend portion Aolisp'osid "be"-tween fsa'id f'ac'in'gs and secure "tridiate -the ends thereof -toitsassd-iatedfao I'g, which outer en'd 5lao'rtion h'a's integral-l leii'pletend Vregions normally 'spaced 'from `the two racings, (other frictionfacing supports carried "by said mounting Vmeans and extending in "ageirer'ally radial direction and [of 'the 'saine vrac'li'al length aslthe first mentioned supports but 'attached 'only v"to theother.friction fac'ir'i'g and `disposed vin circum-ferentiallyspaced relationso as '-to be 'located 'between the Eiirst mentioned islipports, Saidother friction facing supports also :having Yrior'- m'ally hat`circurnfe'rent'iali-y extending `outer end portions disposed betweensaid racings and reach secured intermediate the 'ends thereof to 'theassociated facing, which'outer end-portions have integral flexible lend'regions `'disposed in 'overlapping :relation to `the fnexib'l'e 'end`regio'ris of the rstrnent'ioned friction rfacing l'supports 'andnormally spaced Vfrom the 'two `facirigs mutually to 'effect vflexing ofthe end regions yield-ingly to Vresist raxial n'lovernent of 4onelfriction facing toward' the kother 'under rclutch packing pressure, andfmeans in :circumferentially :spaced relation to 'each pair ofloverla'pping 'edgeportions spacing the cushion plate sections of each`series inwardly from the ring lof lfriction facing "material mountedthereon, 4the width `of overlap of the edge uportions of `the frictionfacing `-supports measured circumferentially of the friction facingmaterial being small enough so that only simple Aor springboard-likeflexure of the overlappingfportions can occur in the compactin-g of thefriction facing supports, the length of overlap of the end regionsmeasured radially from one of the inner and outer diametersvof thefacings being a fraction of the radial width of the facings, so as toconcentrate the clutch engaging pressure in a predetermined portion Of'the radial Width of the friet/i011 faings. y

8.,A friction clutch platefornprisi'n'g a central mounting Ameans, apair o'f axially spaced annnlar friction facings of appreciablewidthmeasu'r'ed radially Iof the plate disposed radially outward from` ltheperiphery vof `said mounting rneans, means for connecting one of saidfriction facings in torque transmitting relation to said mounting`i'n'eans and including 'a series of 'circumferentially spaced,individual lspring sheet metal friction-facing supports carried by saidmounting means and extending in a ygenerally radial directionand ofyequal radial length and attached to one friction facing only, each ofsaid supports having a normally flat circumferentially extending outerend portion disposed between said facings and securedrintermediate theends thereof vto its associated facing in 'a fixed spaced relationthereto, which outer end portion has integral flexible end regions`normally spaced f'rrn the two facings, otherl friction facing supportscarried hy said :mounting means andjexf tending a Agenerally radialdirection and `Vof the 'same radial length as the iirst intentioneds'ipports b'ut attached only to the 'other friction faeing 'and disposedin circufnfc'ientially spaced relation so *as to be located between 'the'first'- mentioned supports, said other friction facing spprts alsohaving iiat circumferentially 'ejiteri Aing outer end portions 'disposedbetween Isaid fae'ings, which outer end portions have integral enregions disposed in overlapping relation to the flexible end `regionstof the iirstinentione'd friction racing supports to 'effect flexing ofthe 2; esi' 'be iilfs'tj-.riained fend regions yieldingly to jrresist'axial movement ofy one friction Vfacing toward I'the other 'underclutch packing pressure, the width of overlap or the edge portions "ofthe @friction facing vs'iip1:i 'i1t s v@measured circumferent-ially ofthe `friction fao gQma-terial being snialI enough so that `only-simpl'eor springboard-like iieiiure of the overlapping "portions canoccur in the compactingjof 'the :friction facingsupports, the length ofoverlap ofthe end regions lnfieasured radially 'from `one ofthe innerand outer 4diameters of Hthe Afacings lbeing a fraction of the radialwidth 'of the ffacings, so as to Aconcentrate lthe clutch engagingvpressure in a predetermined portion of `the xradial 'width of thefriction faclngS, v

9. rn a friction 'clutch plate, a hub member, tw'o parallel seriesfo'f`flexible resilient cushion plate sections lconcentiically arrangedrelative to and` mounted on said hub member to turn therewith, thecushionk plate sections of both series being lc'ircurnferentially spacedand the cushion plate sections 'of one series being arranged finstaggered relation 'to the cushion plate sections of the 'other series,the cushion plate sections of the 'two series being :arranged to be exedtoward one "another, toa more compact relationship and having 'adjoininglateral edge 'portions disposed in overlapping rela'tiori'so as `to rhenexed to resist coxnp'aoting of the two series of cushion platesections, rings of friction facing material niountg ed on the outersides ofthe two series `of`cus` l1 ic`in plate 'sections in'substantially parallel relation'- ship thereto, :and vmeans incircurnferentially spaced relation to each 'pair of overlapping 'edgeportions spacing, the cushion plate sections of at least fone seriesinwardly from the "ring, of friction facing material mounted thereon,the length of overlap of 'the edge portions of the cushion 4platesections :measured radially frein one ofthe inner and outer diameters ofthe ring of vfriction facing material being a fraction of the radialwidth of l"said ring,`for the "purpose mentioned, there 'being otheredge portionspf the cushion platevsections spaced radially/with respectto 'and overlapped in the reverse orde;- from 'the `iirst-narnecl"edgeportions to lhold the latter 'in close contact when the clutch plate `isin disengaged relation to the rest of `the clutch.

10. In a kfriction clutch plate, a huh member, two parallel lseries offlexible resilient cushion plate sections concentrically arrangedrelative to and 'mounted on said hub member to turn therewith, thecushionv plate sections of.v both series being ciroumferentially spacedand the cushion plate sections A`of one series being arranged instaggered 'relation to the cushion plate sections Vof the other series,the cushion plate sections of the two series being arranged 'to befliers #wardens @esther t@ e more ,Compact relationship 4and havingadjoining lateral edge portions idisiiosed in overlapping relation sovas to be fl'eie'd to resistcompacting of the two series of ccnslrion pi 'see-tions, pads of friction facing material mounted Von the outersides of the two series of 'cushion plate sections, and means (incircumferentiall'y'spaced relation to each pair of overlapping 'edgeportions for spacing said pads outwardly said cushion plate sections topre'determ Ae the ultimate extent of leiure of the overlapping 'edgeportions of said cushion plate sections and accordingly pred'eterminethe extent of cushioning action obtainable, the length of overlap of theedge vportions of the cushion plate' sections measured radially from oneof the inner and outer diameters of the pads of friction facing materialbeing a fraction of the radial width of said pads, for the purposementioned, there being other edge portions of the cushion plate sectionsspaced radially with respect to and overlapped in the reverse order fromthe first-named edge portions to hold the latter in close contact whenthe clutch plate is in disengaged relation to the rest of the clutch.

l1. A friction clutch plate comprising a central mounting means, a pairof axially spaced annular friction facings disposed radially outwardfrom the periphery of said mounting means, means for connecting one ofsaid friction facings in torque transmitting relation to said mountingmeans and including a series of circumferentially spaced, individualspring sheet metal friction-facing supports carried by said mountingmeans and extending in a generally radial direction and of equal radiallength and attached to one friction facing only, each of said supportshaving a normally flat circumferentially extending outer end portiondisposed between said facings and secured intermediate the ends thereofto its associated facing, which outer end portion has integral flexibleend regions normally spaced from the two facings, other friction facingsupports carried by said mounting means and extending in a generallyradial direction and of the same radial length as the first-mentionedsupports but attached only to the other friction facing and disposed incircumferentially spaced relation so as to be located between the firstmentioned supports, said other friction facing supports also havingnormally flat circumferentially extending outer end portions disposedbetween said facings and each secured intermediate the ends thereof tothe associated facing, which outer end portions have integral flexibleend regions disposed in overlapping relation to the fiexible end regionsof the firstmentioned friction facing supports and normally spaced fromthe two facings mutually to effect flexing of the end regions yieldinglyto resist axial movement of one friction facing toward the other underclutch packing pressure, and means in circumferentially spaced relationto each pair of overlapping edge portions spacing the cushion platesections of each series inwardly from the ring of friction facingmaterial mounted thereon, the length of overlap of the end regionsmeasured radially from one of the inner and outer diameters of thefacings being a fraction of the radial width of the facings, for thepurpose mentioned, there being other portions of said end regions spacedradially with respect to and overlapped in the opposite way from thefirst-named portions to hold the latter in close contact when the clutchplate is in disengaged relation to the rest of the clutch.

12. A friction clutch plate comprising a central mounting means, a pairof axially spaced annular friction facings disposed radially outwardfrom the periphery of said mounting means, means for connecting one ofsaid friction facings in torque transmitting relation to said mountingmeans and including a series of circumferentially spaced, individualspring sheet metal frictionfacing supports carried by said mountingmeans and extending in a generally radial direction and of equal radiallength and attached to one friction facing only, each of said supportshaving a normally flat circumferentially extending outer end portiondisposed between said facings and secured intermediate the ends thereoft its as sociated facing in a fixed spaced relation thereto, which outerend portion has integral flexible end regions normally spaced from thetwo facings, other friction facing supports carried by said mountingmeans and extending in a generally radial direction and of the sameradial length as the first-mentioned supports but attached only to theother friction facing and disposed in circumferentially spaced relationso as to be located between the first-mentioned supports, said otherfriction facing supports also having flat circumferentially extendingouter end portions disposed between said facings, which outer endportions have integral end regions disposed in overlapping relation tothe flexible end regions of the first-mentioned friction facing supportsto effect flexing of the first-named end regions yieldingly to resistaxial movement of one friction facing toward the other under clutchpacking pressure, the length of overlap of the end regions measuredradially from one of the inner and outer diameters of the facings beinga fraction of the radial width of the facings, for the purposementioned, there being other portions of said end regions spacedradially with respect to and overlapped in the opposite way from thefirstnamed portions to hold the latter in close contact when the clutchplate is in disengaged relation to the rest of the clutch.

13. A friction clutch plate as set forth in claim l, wherein theradially inner ends of the two series of cushion plate sections aresecured to the hub member, the cushion plate sections of one seriesbeing crimped transversely of their radially inner end portions so as tobias the radially outer end portions thereof toward close contact attheir lateral edges with the radially outer end portions of the cushionplate sections of the other series.

14. A friction clutch plate as set forth in claim 1, wherein theradially inner ends of the two series of cushion plate sections aresecured to the hub member, the cushion plate sections of both seriesbeing crimped transversely of their radially inner end portions so as tobias the radially outer end portions in opposite directions toward oneanother for close contact of their lateral edge portions.

l5. A friction clutch plate as set forth in claim 2, wherein theradially inner ends of the two series of cushion plate sections aresecured to the hub member, the cushion plate sections of one seriesbeing crimped transversely of their radially inner end portions so as tobias the radially outer end portions thereof toward close contact attheir lateral edges with the radially outer end portions of the cushionplate sections of the other series.

16. A friction clutch plate as set forth in claim 2, wherein theradially inner ends of the two series of cushion plate sections aresecured to the hub member, the cushion plate sections of both seriesbeing crimped transversely of their radially inner end portions so as tobias the radially outer end portions in opposite directions toward oneanother for close contact of their lateral edge portions.

17. A friction clutch plate as set forth in claim 3, wherein the narrowlegs of the cushion plate sections of at least one series are crimpedtransversely so as to bias the radially outer end portions of saidcushion plate sections toward close contact at their lateral edgeportions with the radially outer end portions of the cushion plateReferences Cited in the le of this patent SBCODS 0f the Other SeIES.UNITED STATES PATENTS 18. A friction clutch plate as set forth in claimW. VINCENT THELANDER.

